ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- University of Michigan defensive back Blake Countess(Owings Mills, Md./Our Lady of Good Counsel) was named Friday (July 11) as one of 39 players across the country to the 2014 Jim Thorpe Award Watch List. The Jim Thorpe Award has been presented annually to the nation's best college defensive back since 1986.

Countess, who earlier this week was included on the watch list for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, started all 13 games for the Wolverines last season and was named first-team All-Big Ten. He tied for the conference lead and for seventh in the NCAA with six interceptions and also added 46 tackles, including 2.0 for loss, and returned one of his interceptions 72 yards for a touchdown in the 42-13 win against Minnesota. He grabbed two interceptions in U-M's 41-30 victory against Notre Dame in front of the largest crowd to witness a college or NFL game. In his career, Countess has appeared in 26 games with 20 starts and recorded 90 tackles, 3.5 for loss, six interceptions, 10 pass breakups and one forced fumble.

Countess is one of five from the Big Ten Conference on the prestigious list.

The Jim Thorpe Award winner is selected from three finalists and will be announced as part of the Home Depot College Football Awards Show broadcast live on ESPN on Dec. 11.